Indicator



Nov. 2 1926.

E. IF. RICE INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Shawl? I Filed Oct. .19, um

INVENTOR Nov. 2' 1926.

E. F. RICE iNDICA'IOR Filed Oct. 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V INVENTOR a. I BY [m 0 v ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

EDMOND FRANCI S RICE, OF HERKIMER, NEW YORK.

INDICATOR.

Application filed October 19; 1925. Serial No. 63,4?3.

This invention relates to improvements in indicators especially designed for use upon street cars, railway cars, coaches and like public conveyances, for indicating to the passengers the name of the streets or sta tions along the line of travel.

'An object of the present invention is the provision of an indicator for this purpose which will indicate each street or station in proper order during travel of thecar in one direction and will properly indicate the streets or stations during the return trip,

without rewinding the indicator at the end of the trip.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an indicator which in addition to the above and other advantages, is simple in construction, reliable in use and may be readily and easily controlled.

lVith the above and other objects in View, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings':

Figure 1 is an elevation partly broken away with parts in section, illustrating an indicator constructed in accordance with the $0 invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates the casing of the indicator which may be of suitable material and configuration and which is provided in one wall with a sight opening 11. Movable behind this opening is an indicator strip 12 which is designed to contain the names of the different streets or stations along the line of travel of the car to which the indicator is applied.

The strip 12 passes over upper and lower guide rollers 14 mounted within the casing at the top and bottom of the opening 11 and has its opposite ends wound upon rolls 15 also suitably mounted within the casing. These rolls rotate in opposite directions and in order to provide for their simultaneous rotation to properly tension the strip 12, the said rolls are connected by gears 16.

One end of each of the guide rollers 14: has secured thereto a sprocket wheel 17 and these wheels are connected by a sprocket chain 18 so that the rollers 14 may be simultaneously rotated in the same direction. The chain 18 engages spaced driving sprockets 19, the latter being mounted upon shafts 20 and e'ach of these shafts is provided with a squared portion 21.

Mounted for rotation in bearings 22 pro vided in the casing at one end of each of the shafts 20 is a sleeve 23. This sleeve is provided with a square socket 24- to receive the squared end of the adjacent shaft 20 so that the sleeve will rotatewith the shaft but may he moved axially thereof. Se-

cured to the inner end of each of the sleeves is a ratchet wheel 25, while an operating head 26 is provided at the outer end of each sleeve.

The ratchet wheels 25 are engaged by oppositely extending teeth 27 provided upon an actuating bar 28, thelatter being mounted for vertical sliding movement in the casing. Springs 29 which have one of their ends secured to the casing and their opposite ends engaging the bar 28 act to yieldingly hold the bar engaged with the wheels 25, while a guide roller 30 engages the bar substantially central of its ends.

The bar 28 carries an arm 31 and pivotally secured to this arm as shown at 32 is one end of a link 33, while the opposite end of this link is pivotally connected to one arm 34 of a bell crank lever, the latter being pivotally mounted within the casing as shown at 35. The other arm 36 of the bell crank lever extends through a slot provided in the casing and has connected thereto an operating cord or cable 37 which may extend to within convenient reach of a member of the car crew for the operation of the indicator. connected to the arm 31 and its other end connected to the casing and acts to yieldingly hold the bar 28 against downward movement.

It will be apparent from the foregoing A string 38 has one of its ends description and the accompanying drawings 1 that a pullupon the cord or cable 37 will force the bar 28 downward against the action of the spring 38 and this downward movement will actuate the indicator strip through the upper driving sprocket 19. The indicator strip will then be moved a predetermined distance to indicate the name or number of the next approaching street or station. During the movement just described, the lower driving sprocket will be actuated only through the medium of the chain 18 as the ratchet wheel 25 has been moved laterally out of engagement with the teeth of the bar 28 as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. described will cause the lower strip receiving roll 15 to rotate and the upper roll 15 will be likewise rotated through the gears 16 so that the strip will be properly tensioned.

Prior to the return trip of the car, the upper ratchet wheel 25 will be disengaged from the bar 28 and the lower ratchet wheel engaged, or reversed from the positions illustrated in Figure 1. Downward movement of the bar 28 will then not actuate either of the driving sprockets, but upward movement of the bar under the action of the spring 38 will actuate the lower driving sprocket 19 through the ratchet wheel and will move the strip in'an opposite direction.

' The wheels 25 are held in adjusted position by means of spring pressed balls 39 which enter spaced grooves 40 provided in the sleeves 23.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Movement of the strip as Having described the invention what is claimed is V 1. An indicator comprising a casing having a sight opening therein, an indicator strip, rolls to receive opposite ends of the strip, guide rollers for the strip, means connecting the guide rollers to provide simultaneous rotary movement, spaced driving means for the rollers, meansto actuate the roller driving means and laterally movable selective means to move either of the roller driving means into and out of active position to control the direction of movement of the indicator strip.

2. An indicator comprising a casing having a sight opening therein, an indicator strip, rolls to receive opposite ends of the strip, guide rollers for the strip, a chain and sprocket connection for the rollers to provide for simultaneous rotary movement, spaced driving sprockets associated with the chain, aratchet wheel for each driving sprocket, a toothed bar engaging the ratchet wheels to actuate the latter and operate the driving sprockets, means to actuate the toothed bar and means to move the ratchet wheels out of engagement with said bar to control the direction of movement of the strip. v r

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

EDMOND FRANCIS RICE. 

